The Odyssey is a world renown epic written by Homer, a legendary Greek author. This piece of literature is still relevant today because no matter how much time passes it still teaches the importance of Greek customs and culture. The Odyssey also signifies the values and virtues that make up a well rounded individual. Today’s culture would not exist with these elements from literature like Homer’s epics. The three pillars of ancient Greek culture: sport, religion, and the arts; are essential to the plot of the Odyssey because they influence sacrificial offerings, games for social ranking, and methods of passing down tales from generation to generation. Religion is a huge part of the Odyssey because all of the major characters revolve around
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An example is in “Book 8”, when King Alcinous organizes a series of Greek games including boxing, wrestling, racing, and discus; he puts on the show to entertain himself and his guests. The king’s son taunted Odysseus in attempt to convince him to participate. Odysseus, full of pride and unable to stop himself from joining in, says, “Your ill-judged remarks have made me exceedingly angry, and you are quite mistaken, for I excel in a great many athletic exercises; indeed, so long as I had youth and strength, I was among the first athletes of the age.” (Butler 58). He proves that he is arrogant and confident in himself, as are many men when they are competitive. Greek sports can be brutal and sometimes bring out the worst in people. In the Odyssey, that is how Odysseus’ character is shown. The games are just one pillar that make up the entire plot of the …show more content…
Therefore art is not just visual arrangement, but it includes storytelling and music too. Ever since the 8th century, the Odyssey has been passed down through oral tradition as a story. Its focus on human interaction and social order has kept it relevant in history. The structure of the Odyssey is based on storytelling even in the very beginning. The epic’s translation starts with, “He arrives in Phaeacia, ruled by Alcinous. Alcinous offers a ship to Odysseus and asks him to tell of his adventures,” (Homer 953) proving the importance of stories. While in Alcinous’ kingdom, a bard played a song that told about Odysseus’ adventure. He began to tear up at the painful memories and Alcinous noticed, urging him to tell it for himself. As the last part of ancient Greek culture, art may be the most significant because the Odyssey would not exist without
An example is in “Book 8”, when King Alcinous organizes a series of Greek games including boxing, wrestling, racing, and discus; he puts on the show to entertain himself and his guests. The king’s son taunted Odysseus in attempt to convince him to participate. Odysseus, full of pride and unable to stop himself from joining in, says, “Your ill-judged remarks have made me exceedingly angry, and you are quite mistaken, for I excel in a great many athletic exercises; indeed, so long as I had youth and strength, I was among the first athletes of the age.” (Butler 58). He proves that he is arrogant and confident in himself, as are many men when they are competitive. Greek sports can be brutal and sometimes bring out the worst in people. In the Odyssey, that is how Odysseus’ character is shown. The games are just one pillar that make up the entire plot of the …show more content…
Therefore art is not just visual arrangement, but it includes storytelling and music too. Ever since the 8th century, the Odyssey has been passed down through oral tradition as a story. Its focus on human interaction and social order has kept it relevant in history. The structure of the Odyssey is based on storytelling even in the very beginning. The epic’s translation starts with, “He arrives in Phaeacia, ruled by Alcinous. Alcinous offers a ship to Odysseus and asks him to tell of his adventures,” (Homer 953) proving the importance of stories. While in Alcinous’ kingdom, a bard played a song that told about Odysseus’ adventure. He began to tear up at the painful memories and Alcinous noticed, urging him to tell it for himself. As the last part of ancient Greek culture, art may be the most significant because the Odyssey would not exist without